Maralinga program with series Land Rovers. ABC. 24/5/20 7.40 PM

[Don 130]

I saw preview of this program of the history of Maralinga and the atomic testing here in Australia. Should be interesting. Many Land Rovers were used as runabouts during the testing, some of which got buried there as they were contaminated with radioactivity.

Maralinga Tjarutja premieres Sunday 24 May at 7.40pm on ABC and iview.

Don.

[RANDLOVER]

The OP mentions a programme showing the history of Maralinga, it has been followed up by a part fictional story of the atomic testing called "Operation Buffalo" the 1st episode of which can be seen here Operation Buffalo : ABC iview (https://iview.abc.net.au/show/operation-buffalo) if you missed it as Starts Sunday 31 May 8:30pm on ABC + iview. It has lots of Series Landies, not sure if they are period correct, as I think I saw different wheelbases, hard and soft tops, and different radiator intakes, but I'm no expert.

[Tombie]

An interesting part of history. I've been to the site and its an amazing place to tour around.
Knowing the caretaker personally made for a more bespoke tour.

The tours are well worth it, Robin Mathews tells the history like it is, warts and all, from both sides of the fence.
His wife was born in the sandhills just outside the test range.

[PerthDisco]

Not to mention the connection to Len Beadell and his ongoing mapping work and road building work in his trusty, heavily abused and perpetually rebuilt Series

[austastar]

Hi,
Len's camp chair and some of his survey notes and instruments are in the Woomera museum.
Cheers

[Graeme]

I gave-up watching it as it conflicted so much with what I learnt and experienced on my Maralinga tour last year where Robin Mathews was a fantastic guide. We also watched the old recordings for many hours into the night which provided a lasting impression of the events of the time.

[jspyle]

Regarding Buffalo.
I thought there were some interesting comments at the dinner towards the end, especially the way the Australian politicians were treated.
The spontaneous vomit when the convoy was lost surely indicated an early symptom of radiation poisoning.
The Australian politicians, when sitting on the tail board, remarked about "people as defined in the constitution" at the time in reference to "surely there is nobody out here" (paraphrased by me).
I do not profess to know much about the subject; but as I was intending to visit I did read a few books and watched some YouTube entries about Maralinga, enough to make me a bit sad about our government at the time and subsequently.
Unfortunately but for covid lockdown I would be out there now.
Certainly a lot more interesting than the cooking show.

[Tombie]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200602/5d53d262db60792bac30141ded929923.cr2https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200602/86ba1ac1545dc60b5a5abe420d5ff8a3.cr2https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200602/c2f50b20fa8e9e9d896cf1fc01010dc8.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200602/bfa20bb097992fccb89f527b2b98228f.cr2https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200602/a7ba27dba822e4c03b25e60fccc92e90.cr2https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200602/05fcf37d27a4491c4aedc31d384d20c6.cr2https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200602/a2c84d8a02dc24e69b4c9076b963d4a4.cr2https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200602/6f6d1660e80fd93a854c0363e9a04a96.cr2https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200602/d2bc083b7771c4aca735f3a4bfc5f22d.cr2

[Tombie]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200602/92b7f6df7d7d0cc99349aaa61361d5fd.cr2https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200602/d88503965293b592cf8d25ccddcdc998.cr2https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200602/241f1780da90c8246ba9928e537a4781.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200602/a98dcfde8b92961fd0f127462807fe03.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200602/6115b8e74e2efb83cad8e8cddba8fbcb.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200602/beb0ad51ef4a5ab4b54fbc13d22248e5.jpg

[Tombie]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200602/d76a4feeca6192b829f9f4e675721be1.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200602/17399ecad397ec5d74751cfdd957cf39.jpg

[RANDLOVER]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200602/5d53d262db60792bac30141ded929923.cr2https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200602/86ba1ac1545dc60b5a5abe420d5ff8a3.cr2https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200602/c2f50b20fa8e9e9d896cf1fc01010dc8.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200602/bfa20bb097992fccb89f527b2b98228f.cr2https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200602/a7ba27dba822e4c03b25e60fccc92e90.cr2https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200602/05fcf37d27a4491c4aedc31d384d20c6.cr2

What is that? Looks like a smoke grenade launcher to me, and why would they have one at Maralinga?

[John_D4]

Thanks for pointing this show out. I’m interested in visiting the area but haven’t made it yet. I quite enjoyed the show

[Graeme]

Small rockets were fired through the blast smoke in a cross pattern to be able to monitor the distribution.

[Tombie]

Small rockets were fired through the blast smoke in a cross pattern to be able to monitor the distribution.

That’s it. [emoji106]

What are the stripes in video of atmospheric atomic bomb tests? (https://www.lanl.gov/museum/news/newsletter/2017/2017-08/test-sci-question.php)

If you watch videos of the blasts you’ll see a plethora of smoke trails running up from all directions.
These enabled observers to track wind patterns and distribution of the fall out.

On that note, the clouds of radioactive material travelled extensively across our country. Where I’m living, isn’t he generations present at the time of the test, there is an elevated level of cancers. I’ve often wondered if there is a correlation.

[grey_ghost]

Hi All,

I did a trip out to Maralinga with some AULRO folk in 2017 - an amazing place.. Here are just some of the pics..

https://i.imgur.com/YhOZUou.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/piCTJd7.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/wsog2oU.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/gDqX4CK.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/YuXdTQk.jpg

Cheers,
GG.

[Graeme]

They now don't allow private vehicles to drive anywhere, using a bus to transport everyone about which allows Robin to give a running commentary. Robin now only does tour duties, having stepped away from caretaker work.

[Tombie]

The one thing many don't make the correlation of is that Maralinga was to develop the payload.
Woomera was to develop the delivery system.

[jon3950]

Two shows on Maralinga and now all these photos. You people are taunting me. We were supposed to be going there in August. [bawl]

Have enjoyed them all but, so keep them coming. [thumbsupbig]

Cheers,
Jon

[jspyle]

Maralinga by Alan Parkinson is an interesting read, it's about the clean up.
There is a YouTube precis showing the equipment used.
YouTube (https://youtu.be/bxHMATByB6o)